Woody Harrelson made quite an impact on the big screen in recent months.

First, he came out as the all-American comical badass in “Zombieland,” then moved onto to an appearance as the boondock-dwelling radio DJ in “2012” – and now, he has come back to a more serious role, as a bald, mustached Army Colonel in “The Messenger,” which opens nationwide Friday.

Written and directed by Oren Moverman, “The Messenger” offers something new to the cinematic take on a military drama.

Actor Ben Foster plays Iraqi-war veteran Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery.

After returning from the war, and months before his discharge, he learns his girlfriend has moved on with her life after he was gone for such a long time. Soon after, he was given a new assignment, which would lead him to working side by side with Cpt. Tony Stone (Harrelson) as a team of causality notification messengers.

The two set out to partake in one of the toughest jobs in the military: informing family members that their loved ones been killed, and it is Cpt. Stone’s job to show Montgomery the ropes in delivering the bad news.

After delivering the news about the death of Olivia Patterson’s (Samantha Morton) husband, Montgomery finds himself strangely attracted to the woman. Although it is strictly against his orders to have any sort of contact with the widowers, other than delivering the news, he can’t help but spend as much time as possible with her and her little boy, leading to a complicated tale of grief, redemption and love.

Harrelson and Foster make an excellent pair, playing two individuals who have been given a tough job that is rarely acknowledged. The two play off each other’s similarities and differences to create a close team with a tight bond.

Although Harrelson will be taken much more seriously in this role than the other characters he has played recently, he still exemplifies some of those quirky behaviors that make him who he is and certainly provides a comic relief to a rather grim topic.

And although he’s tough, audience members will also be able to see the side of his character that is a lonely man — an ex-drinker and somewhat of a womanizer that can barely sleep at night because of the pain he endures from his job.

Foster’s character is a bit of a dynamic one, who seems to have some growth throughout the film and also has a tough time doing what he must do in his time of duty.

Although “The Messenger” can certainly be taken as dramatic, and also adds a touch of romance, it does a great balance between all genres to make for an epic story.

Although it has comparatively taken in very little at the box office so far, the movie has already won four awards, including Best Screenplay at the Berlin International Film Festival.

“The Messenger” is definitely innovative in the “war movie” genre and gives an identifiable story that is easily enjoyed.

Reach the reporter at bryan.brougham@asu.edu.